Marsh in mix for top honour
SHAUN Marsh and Usman Khawaja could be shock candidates to open the batting in South Africa if Cameron Bancroft fails against the world’s No.1-ranked pace attack.
Australia will announce their Test squad in Sydney this morning and unless Joe Burns can prove his fitness in the face of serious injury, or Matt Renshaw gets a recall, there may be no shadow in the party of 14 or 15 for the opener who struggled on debut in the Ashes.
Bancroft is a certain selection after being strongly endorsed by coach Darren Lehmann and captain Steve Smith, and he will rightfully be given every chance to prove himself against South Africa, starting with the first Test in Durban on March 1.
However, this shapes as a heavy duty four-Test series and there will be no guarantees for him to see out the entire campaign if he and Australia are tested against a powerful pace attack led by Dale Steyn.
There looks to be only one role up for grabs in the squad for South Africa, with Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Renshaw fighting it out, presuming No.1 candidate Burns is scratched due to injury.
Stoinis would have likely been picked for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba if not for family circumstances, while Maxwell was called in as a shadow batsman for Brisbane and is the leading Sheffield Shield run-scorer.
Peter Handscomb is set to be picked as the first-choice reserve batsman despite his midAshes dumping, meaning Australia could be well served
for middle-order men but short on depth at the top.
As capable as Shaun Marsh is as an opening batsman, selectors will be reluctant to use his versatility given the 34year-old nailed down a middle-order position in a careerdefining Ashes summer.
Australia believe Renshaw is a career Test cricketer, and selecting him as back-up for Bancroft would reflect their faith in his ability.
The T20 squad to take on England and New Zealand in a tri-series will be named today, with Hobart Hurricanes ace D’Arcy Short to be named to make his Australian debut.